Aglaia forbesii
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Summary
Source: WikipediaAglaia forbesii is a species of flowering plant in the family Meliaceae. It is found in Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, and Thailand.
Description
A tree. It grows up to about 28 m high. The leaves are alternate and compound. The flowers are about 1 mm across. They are pale yellow. They occur in large groups. They from are about 2 cm across. They are pale green. The seeds have a clear white or pink layer around them.
Edible Uses
Fruit - raw. The seeds are covered in a translucent, gelatinous, yellow or pink flesh (aril) with a sweet-sour flavour. The flavour can be similar to that of the langsat (Lansium domesticum). The fruits are up to 40mm long and 38mm wide, containing up to 2 seeds.
Medicinal Uses
The genus 'Aglaia' is the only source of the group of about 50 known representatives of compounds that bear a unique cyclopenta[b]tetrahydrobenzofuran skeleton. These compounds are more commonly called rocaglate or rocaglamide derivatives, or flavaglines, and most have been found to have potent insecticidal properties, antifungal, antiviral, antibacterial or anthelmintic bioactivity. Several of them exhibit pronounced cytotoxic activity against a range of human cancers. Since the first representative in this group was only discovered in 1982, this is one of the few recent examples of a completely new class of plant secondary metabolites of biological promise (see B. G. Wang et al., Biochem. Syst. Ecol. 32: 1223-1226. 2004; L.W. Chaidir et al., J. Nat. Prod. 64: 1216-1220. 2001).
Distribution
It is a tropical plant. It grows from sea level to 1,000 m above sea level. It is often near streams in evergreen forest.
Where It Grows
Asia, Indochina, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, SE Asia, Thailand,
Other Uses
The genus 'Aglaia' is the only source of the group of about 50 known representatives of compounds that bear a unique cyclopenta[b]tetrahydrobenzofuran skeleton. These compounds are more commonly called rocaglate or rocaglamide derivatives, or flavaglines, and most have been found to have potent insecticidal properties, antifungal, antiviral, antibacterial or anthelmintic bioactivity. Several of them exhibit pronounced cytotoxic activity against a range of human cancers. Since the first representative in this group was only discovered in 1982, this is one of the few recent examples of a completely new class of plant secondary metabolites of biological promise (see B. G. Wang et al., Biochem. Syst. Ecol. 32: 1223-1226. 2004; L.W. Chaidir et al., J. Nat. Prod. 64: 1216-1220. 2001). The sapwood can be orange-brown, pale brown, pale yellowish-brown or sometimes reddish-brown.
Production
In Thailand it can flower and fruit for much of the year but most commonly flowers are March and April and fruit May to August.
Synonyms
Also Known As
Hom, Langsat burung, Lantupak, Merlangsat, Segara, Suloh
References (3)
- Dodo, 2015, Keanekaragaman dan konservasi Tumbuhan Buah Langka Indonesia. Pusat Konservasi Tumbuhan Kebun Raya – LIPI. Warta Kebun Raya 13(2)
- Slik, F., www.asianplant.net
- Wongprasert, T. et al, 2011, A Synoptic Account of the Meliaceae of Thailand. Thai For. Bull. 39:210-266
